O The Hearth-Stone: THOUGHTS UPON HOME-LIFE IN BY SAMUEL OSGOOD, AUTHOR OF "STUDIES IN CHRISTIAN BIOGRAPHY," "GOD WITH MEN, OR FOOT- PRINTS OF PROVIDENTIAL LEADERS," &0. "This is the famous stone That turneth all to gold: For that which God doth touch and own Cannot for less be told." GEORGE HERBERT. FIFTH EDITION, ENLARGED AND ILLUSTRATED. NEW-YORK: D. APPLETON AND COMPANY, 346 & 348 BROADWAY. LONDON: 16 LITTLE BRITAIN. 1854. ENTERED according to Act of Congress, in the year 1853, by D. APPLETON AND COMPANY, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Southern District of New-York, DEC 08.2000 PUBLISHERS' ADVERTISEMENT. THIS work has been received with such decided favor that the Publishers are induced to issue this enlarged and illustrated edition. The two closing essays are wholly new. The illustrations are from original designs by Döpler. The artist best interprets his own meaning, and interprets very well the spirit of the whole volume. The frontispiece represents "The Old Homestead' in the country, revisited by the married children; and the title-page represents "The New Home" in the city, with the old people on a visit to the young people. It is hoped that this edition will be peculiarly congenial with the coming season of family reunions, and will generally commend itself to the home feelings of our community. PREFACE. THESE thoughts are published for the same reason that led the author from time to time to put them upon paper,—a wish to meet a want in the sphere of the affections rather than to claim any honor in the kingdom of ideas. Wherever important questions have been at issue he has not avoided them, however conspicuous or controverted; but the volume aims to breathe a kindly spirit above the reach of sect and party. He is not ashamed to have his style show something of the habit of his profession, and to use, in part, ideas that he has expressed in the lyceum and the pulpit in a different form. It will be seen that the several subjects connect themselves more or less closely with a year's life in the household, and that the light which cheers the whole twelvemonth is kindled on the hearth-stone at Christmas and New Year. |